WELLINGTON.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XII, Issue 750, 21 July 1904, Page 8

WELLINGTON.

Wellington, July 19. The recent Racing and Trotting Conferences held at Wellington, were got through more expeditiously than was expected. Consideration of a number of amendments to the rules was obviated through the Racing Conference deciding to appoint a select committee of three to thoroughly 7 revise the whole rules, and consideration of various important matters have thus been deferred. Mr A. Samuel, of the Taranaki Club, having been selected as one of the revising committee, will be in a position to advocate the addition of certain new rules suggested by his club, particularly a new rule providing “that a jockey shall not be weighed out until his riding fee has been deposited with the clerk of the scales.” Impecunious riders, when associated with impecunious owners, are tempted to hunt up “punters” a most undesirable practice —which often leads to wrong doing. Another new rule

proposed by ■ the Taranaki Club, as to the appointment of stipendiary or visiting stewards, is of considerable importance. Should these two proposals be accepted by , the revising committee, the public will hear less of jockeys’ rings and corrupt racing. The decision of the C.J.C. to declare the handicaps for the Grand National Meeting a week earlier will enable owners to decide as to the movements of their horses forthwith. A few have already gone South. Haydn and Scotty went last Friday by the Mararoa, which also took the Canterbury visiting horses oome. Merry Boy and Papatu have also gone South. J. Rae, trainer of Kaitere, is at present on a visit to Blenheim, his old home, whither he has not been for the last twenty years, and on his return will, if the weights are suitable, send Kaitere, Ranana and Hinekoa on to Riccarton. Rae himself intends running up to Auckland prior to going South. Stewart Waddel, with the Hon. J. D. Ormond’s team, consisting of Bandmaster, Repulse, and The Stake, and Sir Wm. Russell’s steeplechase mare, Nadador, ha'e returned to Hastings, and nothing has been decided as to his visiting the G.N. Meeting. The owners of Moccasin, Crespin, Star, Tahae, The Guesser and Kremlin will probably send their horses South after the weights are declared. Waiwera and the other Taranaki horses have been taken to their homes. The former will go South a fortnight hence providing he is all right and his weight pleases his owner. The Secretary of the W.R.C. informs me that the stakes in the Convoy r -G ladsome case have been refunded, and are flow held by the Treasurer of the W.R.C., who awaits instructions as to their disposition. Mr W. Davis has sustained a loss through the death of the horse Smithy. This horse promised well a couple of years back, but although a good jumper he failed to stay, and cost his party a deal of cash during the past tw’O seasons .

The local stables were singularly unfortunate during the recent meetirg, Warwick being the only local horse to win a race. Waitarere made a bold bid for the Parliamentary Handicap, but with only lib concession from that good nerformer Loch Erne failed to extend him. Ballarat, Shrapnel Shell', Cyrus and Matuku all looked well but failed to score.